MADISON — Amanda M. Meade, 41, of Palmyra, was charged Feb. 21 in Dane County Circuit Court with six felony counts of filing a false or fraudulent state income tax return for the years 2016 through 2021. 

According to the criminal complaint, Meade failed to report income embezzled from the Sugar River Senior Center in Belleville on her Wisconsin income tax returns. The complaint alleges that Meade filed tax returns that understated her total income by more than $117,000. The Wisconsin income tax evaded for 2016 through 2021 is alleged to be $8,081. 

Under Wisconsin law, filing a false or fraudulent income tax return is a felony. If convicted on all counts, Meade could face up to 36 years in prison and $60,000 in fines, or both. 

Meade is being prosecuted by the Dane County District Attorney’s Office following an investigation by the Belleville Police Department, the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Wisconsin Department of Revenue’s Office of Criminal Investigation. 

The Wisconsin Department of Revenue Office of Criminal Investigation investigates individuals and businesses suspected of committing tax crimes and seeks criminal prosecution for those crimes. 

To report tax fraud, go to www.revenue.wi.gov and click the “Report tax fraud” link under Quick Links.